Fabric-cutting machine



Jan. 7, 1930. H. M. BROWN FABRIC CUTTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1927 i NV ENTQ R Mf brown,

ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1930.

H. M. BROWN FABRIC CUTTING MACHINE 2 SheetS Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1927 mm an a NQ Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD M. BROWN, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO FABRIC-CUTTING MACHINE Application filed January 24, 1927. Serial No. 162,988.

My invention relates to machines for cutting sheets of fabric into strips and it has particular relation to that portion of a machine of the above designated character, which is adapted to control the operation of the cutting mechanism.

One object of my invention is to provide a mechanism forming a part of a bias cutter which operates to insure accurate measurement and cutting of relatively wide strips of fabric as well as relatively narrow ones.

Another object of this invention is to provide an intermittently operating mechanism which provides for a portion of a machine to be operated during predetermined periodic intervals.

\Vhen cutting relatively wide strips of fabric by means of so-called bias cutting ma chines, accuracy in cutting uniform widths is frequently sacrificed. This is partially due to the inherent operating characteristics of the machine and is, therefore, difiicult to obviate without changing the structure itself. Furthermore, it is often desirable to obtain strips of bias cut fabric which are considerably wider than those which can be produced by an ordinary bias cutter. By means of my invention I provide a mechanism adapted to be incorporated in a bias cutter which provides for the production of either relatively wide or narrow bias cut strips of fabric, the operations necessary to so adjust the machine as to change from cutting one width to another, being simple and expeditiously effected. Also various widths of strips can be cut and at the same time accurate operation which characterizes the machine when cutting narrower strips is preserved. The widths of strips of which the machine is capable of cutting may be doubled or tripled at will.

For a better understanding of the principles of my invention reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, of which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a bias cutter and illustrates one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one end of the cutter bar of a bias cutter;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a drive mechanism constituting a portion of my invention, the view being taken substantially along the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism taken substantially along the line IVIV of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cam and latch forming a part of the drive mechanism, the view being taken substantially along the line VV of Fig. 4.

Inasmuch as the purpose of my invention is to provide a device for controlling the cutting mechanism of a bias cutter, it is not limited to any particular type of bias cutter, but may be employed in combination with any well known or approved form of fabric cut-.

ting machine. In the drawings, a socallerl horizontal type of bias cutter is illustrated. For a more complete description of the details of this machine, reference may be had to the copending application, Serial No. 163,379, filed January 25, 1927, and assigned to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

In its essentials the machine consists of a continuously operated motor-2O which drives two distinct portions of the machine, an intermittently operated feeding device 21 and a cutting device 22. Both of these are oper ated in synchronized relation and cooperate to cut a sheet of fabric 23 into strips of predetermined width.

The intermittentlyoperated feeding device 21 measures the fabric sheets to proper widths by drawing the latter through the machine and momentarily arresting the movement of the fabric while it is being cut. This device is driven by a chain 24- from a main drive shaft 26 which is rotated by the motor through a gear 27 and clutch 28. An operating mechanism comprising a valve 30, levers and the clutch 28 are employed not only for startingthe machine, but for stopping the operation thereof. Power from the motor 20 is transmitted to the machine through the clutch 28 and when the clutch is released, the operation of the entire machine is arrested. The clutch, which is operated by the valve 30, may be actuated by turning the levers 30*. A detailed description of this mechanism is not believed to be necessary as it is by one or more strokes of the pitman rod 35 ing of the clamping bar 53 and discharges and by adj ustablefeatures, a detailed description of which is set forth in the copending ap plication above mentioned. I

The cutting mechanism is mounted upon a plate 41 thatis diagonally disposed with respect to the belts 34 and which supports a cutter bar 42 that isrevolubly mounted at its midportion upon the upper face of the plate 41. One end of an arm 43 is rigidly secured to the cutter bar at its axis of revolution and supports adjacent its other end a sprocket 44 that is driven continuously in synchronized relation with the feeding device through a suitable train of elements (not shown) from the main drive shaft 26.

Each end of the cutter bar 42 supports a standard 46 bolted thereto, which is adapted to be revolved with the cutter bar. A casting 47 having two cylindrical chambers 48 and 49 formed therein is bolted to'the upper extremity of each "standard 46 and is interconnected with its complementary casting 47 by a ribbed cross member 50. One'of the chambers 48 is provided with a piston 51 which is actuated by air under pressure admitted to the cylinder through apipe 51. A piston rod 52 connectedto the end portion of a fabric clamping bar 53 moves the latter downwardly when the pistonis actuated by admission of fluid under pressure through the pipe 51. After the fluid pressure is relieved a spring 51 raises the bar 53 to its normal position. The other chamber 49 forms a part of a dash pot mechanism 54, adapted to retard the clamping action of the bar 53 and thereby to obviate the danger of injuring the fabric 23 which passesbetween the clamping bar 53 and the cutting bar 42..

A valve mechanism 56 which is operated in synchronized relation with the other elements of the machine, admits air to the cylin der 48, that is adapted to control the lowerthe fluid from the cylinder at proper intervals. A chain 57 rigidly supports a knife 58 upon one of its links, and is trained at one end of its path of travel about an idler sprocket 59 journaled upon the standard 46 at one end of the cutterbar. .Likewise the chain 57 at the other end of its path of travel is trained about a driven sprocket 61 jours naled upon the other standard 46. The

sprocket 61 forms a portion of an intermittently'operated drive mechanism 62. The

chain and knife travel through a narrow recess formed by registering slots provided therefor in the clamping and cutting bars,the knife being adapted to cut the fabric which is held securely between these bars. This construction and operation is described in detail in the co endiin application re viously referred to. The knife chain 57 is driven b the s rocket 61 which in turn, is driven continuously by a chain '63 trained over a sprocket 64 forming a portion of the intermittently operated drive mechanism 62, the chain 63 extending toward the central portion of the cutter bar to the driving sprocket 44.

When it is desired that a strip of fabric be out after each stroke of the pitman rod 35 a of the feeding device, the cycle of operation occurs in the following manner.

Normally the spring 51 maintains the clamping bar 53 in raised position and while in this position the machine is energized,

thereby causing the rollers 33 of the feeding device 22 to be rotated sufliciently to supply an amount of fabric corresponding to the width of the strip desired. Subsequently, the valve mechanism 56 operates to lower the clamping bar, whereby the fabricmaterial disposed between the cutter bar 42 and the clamping bar 53 is held securely. The knife 58 which is secured to the chain 57 then e'ngages and cuts the fabric, after which the clamping bar is raised and the cycle repeated.

If it is desired that the clamping b-a-r be lowered to engage the fabric and that the attendant cutting operation be performed only after the occurrence of two or more operating intervals of the feed mechanism or strokes of the pitman rod 35, the timing of the valve 56 is changed and the intermittent drive mechanism 62 is employed.

One end of the journaled in an L-shaped bracket arm 71 that drive mechanism 62 is.

is bolted to the standard 46, and the other end of the mechanism is journaled in the.

standard 46. The mechanism includes a worm segment 72 keyed to a shaft 73 which is provided with two bushings 74 and 75 having a plurality of shouldered portions, these bushings being maintained in relative rotatable relation with respect to the shaft 7 3. A link by the link 77 and set screw 81. When the then being performed each time the supply mechanism moves the fabric forwardly by a stroke of the pitman 35. WVhen the set screw 81 is withdrawn, both sprockets 61 and 64 are operated continuously. The ability of the shaft to rotate depends solely upon whether or not the set screw 81 in the end of the link is positioned in the tapped opening 82 provided therefor.

A shouldered sleeve 84 rotatably mounted upon the bushing 74 is provided with an annular recessed portion 85, which receives a roller bearing 86, the latter being secured about the shaft 73. A collar 88iserves as a spacer between the bearing 86 and a similar bearing 87, that is likewise secured about the shaft. A third roller bearing 89 abuts the shouldered portion of the sleeve 84 and coacts with the bearing 87 to maintain a journal bearing element 91 in rotative relation with respect to the sleeve 84 and the shaft 7 3. The journal bearing member 91 is of irregular shape, and includes as an integral unit a disc portion 92 having a recessed periphery adapted to receive a suitable oil packing 93 and also rigidly to support the sprocket 64 that is driven by the chain 63 from the sprocket 44, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Also the journal member 91 includes a counterweight 94 for offsetting the unbalanced load caused by the unsymmetrical construction of the entire revolvable journal member.

A worm gear 96 meshes with the worm segment 72 and is keyed to an auxiliary shaft 97 that is rotatably mounted in the journal member 91. As the worm gear 96 is revolved about the shaft 73, it is caused to rotate by reason of its meshing engagement with the worm 72 while the latter is stationary. At one end of the auxiliary shaft 97 a gear 98 is provided which is keyed thereto and which meshes with a gear 99 of equal size that is keyed to a second auxiliary shaft 101 likewise rotatably mounted in the journal member 91. Adjacent the gear 99 a cam disc 102 is keyed to the shaft which is provided with a cam channel 103 that is machined therein.

The ratio between the worm gears 72 and 96 is such that bodily rotation of the journal bearing member 91 with respect to the individual rotation of the shaft 97 and gear 96 is 8 to 1. That is, the journal member 91, together with the gears 96, 98 and 99, rotates eight times about the axis of the shaft 73 while the shafts 97 and 101 are rotated one revolution about their respective individual axes. This construction therefore constitutes a differential gearing. It is to be understood that the pitch of the worm gear elements may be varied to change the ratio indicated, which is merely illustrative of one application of the invention.

A rectangular bar 104 having a groove 105- therein is mounted in' the ournal bearing and is slidable in a direction parallel to the axis 4 of the shaft 73. A plate 106 is screwed to the base of the bar and is provided with two coiled springs 107 which extend within the grooved portion thereof. A latch 108, having two reamed openings in one end thereof adapted to receive the end portions of the springs 107 is slidably disposed Within the grooved portion 105 of the bar. In order to provide for transverse movement of the latch 108 and the bar 104 with respect to the shaft 101, the'latch and the bar are slotted near their mid portions, as indicated at 109, to receive the shaft 101 which passes therethrough. The latch is also provided with a second slot 110 near its outer extremity. A pin 111.securely fastened to the bar 104 extends through the slot of the latch, into the channel 103 of the rotatable cam disc, and is. ac

tuated thereby. Linear movement, which is imparted to the pin 111 by reason of the irregular contour of the cam channel, will be transmitted directly to the bar and latch.

A dowel pin 113, rigidly secured to the latch 108 projects through the plate 106 and extends a short distance through an opening provided therefor in the disc 92. The position of the end of the pin 113 at the outer side of the disc 92 indicates the position of the latch 108 with respect to a lug 114 which it is adapted to engage. The lug 114 having an offset portion 115 is slidably disposed in an elongate slot 116 provided therefor. in a disc wheel 117 that is keyed to the bushing 75. A plate 118 bolted over the slotted portion of the disc maintains a spring 119 in proper position therein. One end of the spring 119 engages the head of the lug 114, whereas the other end abuts the wall of the slot 116. By means of this construction, the shock which is caused by a sudden engage ment of the latch 108 with the offset portion of the lug 114 is absorbed by the spring 119.

A cylindrical member 121 is rigidly secured to the periphery of the disc wheel by screws 122 and is adapted to engage the packing 93 that is provided in the recessed portions of the revolvable journal member. An oil seal is thereby established whereby the mechanical elements contained within the cylinder may at all times be immersed in a suitable lubricating fluid.

. The sprocket wheel 61 is rigidly secured to the bushing 75 by means of a set screw 123 and is adapted to drive the cutter chain 57. Two

ball bearings 124 and 125 are provided which surround portions of the bushing 75 and are maintained in spaced relation with respect to the sprocket 61 by means of stationary rings 126. The bearings are contained within circular openings: provided, therefor in the standard 46. The bearing 124 is maintained in po:

sition by a nut 128 screwedfuponthe end. of

the bushing'75. At the endof the shaft 73 v a. roller bearing 129 is providedwhich is maintained in position by means of. a nut 131. An

oil cap 132 surrounds the'end of the shaft 7 and engages the. outer race of'the bearing 129. The capis rigidly secured to the; stand.- ard by bolts 133 which pass therethrough. At various locationsabout the mechanism 62, plugs 134 having valvestherein: are provided to facilitate the lubrication of the relatively movable parts.

In operating this portion of the device, the link 77 is secured in a stationary-positionby the set screw 81, whereby rotation of theshaft 73bearing the worm segment 7 2is prevented.

The sprocket 64 which is rotated continuous ly during operation of the machine by the chain 63 revolves the journal member 91 about the shaft. 73; This rotarymovement'of thejournal member causes the worm vgearv 96, which meshes with theworm segment 72,- to be rotated about the axis of the shaft 97,..and

which in turn rotates the shaft 101 through the intermeshed gears and 99; V The cam disc 102 which is keyed to this shaft will likewise be rotated and will, in turn, actuate the pin 111. When the latch 108 is actuated outwardly to. assume the positon illustrated in Fig. 5, it will engage the offset: portion 115 of the In latten Likewise the bushing 75, whi ch will thereby be rotated, will drive the sprocket 61 over which the knife supportingchainb'? is: trained. After the cam disc 102- has rotated through a certain angle while the chain 57 and knife 58 are actuated through one: cutting stroke, it will causcthe latch 108 to recede from engagement with the lug 114, thereby interrupting the rotary movement of the disc 117. The

is continued until the knife 58 has completed one cycle of o eration about the sprockets 6'1 and 59, an then its movement is automatically stopped in the position shown by Fig. 2, although the sprocket 64 is continuously driven.

whereby the sprocket 61 driving the chain 57 willbe actuated at anydesired' interval. Accordingly, the knife 58 may be rendered operative after two, three or any other desired number offeed strokes of the pit'man rod 30;

When the screw 81 is wi thdrawn the mecha nism is manipulated until the latch 108' engages-thelug 115, thereby providing a-positivedrive between the sprockets 64 and 61. 'lhis'relation of elements will remain 'a'slong' as the shaft 73 is permitted to idle, and, under such conditions the sprockets 64- and 61 are both continuously driven while the machine is operating. The cam disc 102 isthen'not rotat- 114: on the, disc 117 and will-rotate the parts of the machine are so coor-- dinated that the rotation of the sprocket 61 Obviously the gear ratioswhich are employed'may be modified,

ing about its own axis, although the elements 64, 7 3, '96, 9,8, 102 and 11.7 are beingrotated as a unit.

Although I. have which .my invention may. assume and described in detail but a single application thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but. that various minor modifications and. changes'may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention, or from thescope of the appended claims.v I

What I claim is:

illustrated but one form 1. In combination, a fabric cutting "device,

mechanism for actuating the cutting device insynchronizecl relation'with the fabricfeeding means, and means interconnecting the actuating means and the cutting device for arresting operation of the cutting device during the timev required to operate the fabric feeding means through a plurality of the periodic intervals. r

3. In combination, a fabric cutting device, means for feeding the fabric thereto at'periodic intervals, means: normally 0 crating the cutting device to cut the'fabric etween the periodic intervals, means for clamping the fabric securely before each cutting operation,

a mechanism automatically operated by the second mentioned means for initiating operation of the fabric cutting means only after the fabric feeding means hasbeen operated through a plurality of the periodic intervals, and means for rendering the mechanism inoperative.

4. In combination, a driven fabric cutting device having a cutting element movable in I an endless path, means for feeding the fabric at successive perlodic intervals across a portion of the endless path, means normally operating the cutting device continuouslyfor cutting, the fabric between the successive periodic intervals, an intermittently; operable mechanism operatively. connected to the last mentioned means for changing the continuous operation of the cutting device to an intermittent operation, and means for initiating the intermittent operation. 7 V 5". In combination, a fabric cutting device, means for feeding fabric thereto at perio ic intervals, a drive mechanism'for operating the feeding means, means normally operating the cutting device for cutting the fabric between the periodic intervals, means in cooperative relation with the cutting device for clamping the fabric securely during each cutting operation, a mechanism for actuating the cutting device periodically only after the fabric feeding means has been operated through a plurality of periodic intervals,

said mechanism including a cam device operative in synchronism With the fabric feeding means, and means actuated by the cam device for operatively connecting the drive mechanism to the cutting device.

6. In combination, a fabric cutting device, means for feeding fabric thereto at periodic intervals, driving means for operating the feeding means, means normally operating the cutting device for cutting the fabric between the periodic intervals, means disposed in cooperative relation with the cutting device for clamping the fabric securely during each cutting operation a mechanism for actuating the cutting device periodically only after the fabric feeding means has been operated through a plurality of periodic intervals, said mechanism including a shaft having a worm segment integral therewith, a journal member rotatably driven about the shaft by the driving means and synchronized with the fabric feeding means, a worm gear rotatably mounted in the journal member and meshed with the worm segment, a latch slidably mounted in the journal member, a cam driven by the worm gear and rotatably mounted in the journal member for actuating the latch to a position whereby a positive driving connection is established therefrom to the cutting means.

7 In combination, a cutting machine comprising a driving mechanism having a driven rotatable member, differential gearing mounted thereon, a shaft having supports operatively connected to the driven member, said shaft having a gear connection in the differential gearing, a power transmitting element rotatably mounted upon the shaft and having a cutting device connected thereto, means for securing the shaft against rotation, means for intermittently connecting the gearing to the power transmitting element during continuous rotation of the driven rotatable member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

HAROLD M. BROWN. 

